Device for sealing envelops.



Nb. 7oo,|99. Patented ma 20, I902. A. HEYDRICH. DEVICE Fun SEALHQG'ENVELUPS.

, (Application filed Jan. 12, 1901.)

3 Shaets8haat L A TTOHNEYS Pate'hted May- 20, I902.

- A. HEYDRI CH.

DEVICE FOR SEALING ENVELOPS.

(Application filed in. .12, 1901.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(in Model.

W/ TNE SSE S A 7TOHNEYS we "aims Firms :0. PMOHLLITNQ, wnsnmu'rou, a c.

' Patented May 20, I902.

, A. HEYDRICH. DEVIGE FOR SEALING ENVELUPS.

(Application filed Ian. 12, 1901.)

3 Sheets-sheaf 3a (No Model.)

i 6 W? i i W V HTI Ir uvvavron fl wfl az i.

ATTORNEYS U ITED STATES.

PATENT OF ICE.

ALFRED HEYDRICH, OF BROOKLYN,.NEW YORK, ASSI GNQR OF THREE- FIFTI-IS TO ALEXANDER MOINTOSH AND ERNEST BAFFLOER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR'SEALING ENVELOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 700,199, dated May 20, 1902-.

' Applldation filed January 12, 19o1. Serial No- 48,015- (No mddeh To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED HEYDRIOH, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Machine for Sealing Envelope, of which the following is a'full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and economic form of machine for automatically and positively sealin g all envelops fed thereto irrespective of their sizes, which machine can be operated by hand, by foot, or by mechanical power of any description.

A further purpose of the invention is to so construct a machine of the character above described that it will be compact and will not unduly wet the envelops andwhich' will dellventhc envelope sealed in proper condition.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set'forth,

and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be'h'adtothe accompanying 4 is aview similar tothat shown in Fig. 3, ex,- I

cept that the envelopfis shown in process of being sealed. v

A represents a support having suitable legs B; but the character of the support may be changed or varied. In the said support A, at the central portion of its forward end, an opening 'is shown, and an elbow-lever 11 is pivoted at the opening 10 between suitable lugs 12 or otherwise. One member of the lever 11 is longer than the other, and the longer member extends up through the opening 10*t0' a desired height and at its upper end is provided, preferably, with a longitudinal slot 13,

while the free end of the shorter member of the lever 11 is shown pivotally connected with a pitman l4, and said pitnian in turn is attached to a foot-lever 15,while a spring 16, carried by the pitman, serves to carry the arm 13 back to the forward portion of the support A after it has b'een'thrown a certain distance in direction of the sealing-rollers, to be hereinafter described. I

I desire it to be understood that although 'Ihave just described means for operating the device by foot-power it may be operated by hand or mechanically in any manner.

Standards 0 are erected on the support A at each side near the rear end of the said support, and these standards, as shown, are each provided with a central longitudinal slot 15 at the upper portion and two side longitudinal slots 16, the side slots 1 6 being preferably longer than the central slot 1 5. A water tank, box, or receptacle 17 is located on the support A between the standards 0, and

in front of the said box or receptacle 17 an uprightplatelS is secured to thesupport A, the said, upright plate having an upwardly 'andforwardly' inclined upper section 18.

This upwardly and forwardlyfinclined section 18 ofthe uprightf18 se ves, as a t'able'for the outer end of a strip of felt 19 or other absorbent material, the opposite end of which absorbent material remains in the water tank, box, or receptacle 17, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus it'will be observed that the upper outer portion 21 of the absorbent strip 19 presents an inclined'surface 21, extending down from' the topfof the upright 18 in direction of the water-tank, box, or receptacle, and this upper outer portion 21 of the absorbent material 19 is preferably rende red rigid by attaching thereto a back plat e (Shown also in Figs. 2 and 3.) I A yoke 22' is located at the upper portion of each standard'G, and these yokes are connected with the standards at their sides by bolts or rivets 23 or their'equivalents.

The trunnions of the two rollers 24c and 25, which may be of metal, are journaled in the lower portions of the slots 16 in the standards 0. These rollers 24 and 25 are in the same horizontal plane; but preferably the rollers are not in contact with each other. Two other mating rollers 26 and 27 are located above the rollers 24 and'25. All of the rollers may be of rubber, metal, or wood or of any suitable material.

The trunnions of the upper rollers 26 and 27 pass up through the upper portion of the slot 16 in the standard 0, as is shown in Fig. 1, and these upper rollers are held in frictional engagement with the lower rollers by means of yokes 28, shown located outside of the standards 0 and in engagement with the trunnions of the said upper rollers. Each yoke 28 is connected witha stem 29,and just above the yoke a sleeve 30 is usually mounted on each stem and springs 31 surround the said sleeves. These springs 31 have bearing against the yokes 28 at their lower ends and at their upper ends bear against cross-bars 32, located below the central portions of the upper yokes 22 and to which the said sleeves 30 are secured. The cross-bars 32 rest against the sleeves 30 and are guided in their upward movement through the medium of pins 33, which are passed through suitable vertical openings in the yokes 22 of the standards 0.

The stems or posts 29 are passed loosely through central openings in the yokes 22 of the standards, and the upper portions of said stems or posts 29 are threaded, as shown at 34 in the drawings. Nuts 35 are screwed upon the threaded portions of the posts or stems, which nuts have bearing at their lower ends upon the upper surfaces of the said yokes, so that by manipulating the nuts 35 more or less tension may be brought to bear upon the upper rollers 26 and 27, causing them to engage to a greater or less extent with the lower rollers 24 and 25.

Upon one or upon both trunnions of the lower forward roller 25 a pinion 36 is loosely mounted, and this pinion is attached to or forms an integral portion of a disk 37, which disk carries a spring-controlled dog 38, the dog being arranged for engagement with a ratchet-wheel 39, which is fast on the trunnion, so that when racks, to be hereinafter described, are passed over the pinions 36 the racks in their outward or rearward movement will so turn the disk or disks 37 that the dog or dogs 38, carried by the disks, will act upon the ratchet-wheels 39 and will cause the forward lower roller 25 to revolve in an outward direction, so that an envelop passed between the forward lower roller 25 and its upper mating-roller 27 will be carried in an outward direction, as is illustrated in Fig. 4; but when the racks can move forward the pinions 36 will revolve, but the dogs 38 will slip over the ratchet-wheels 39 and will have no influence thereon, so that in the rearward movement of the racks the envelop will remain between the rollers 25 and 27 until the racks can make their outward or rearward movement. Pinions 36 are attached to the trunnions of the outer lower roller 24.

A shield 41 is located in front of the lower forward roller 25, and the flap of the envelop to be sealed is pressed against this shield just prior to the flap portion of the envelop being introduced between the rollers 25 and 27. The shield 41 at its upper ends conforms to the curvature of the forward lower roller 25 and is inclined in direction of the space between said lower forward roller and its upper mating roller 27, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This shield 41 may be held by any suitable means above the water tank, box, or receptacle 17. In the drawings the shield 41 is shown attached to a cross-bar 42, extending from one standard 0 to the other, as is likewise shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A second shield 43 is usually attached to the upper portions of the standards 0 at their inner edges, and this upper shield 43 is in front of the upper forward roller 27 and is curved downward in direction of the space between the said upper roller-27 and its lower mating roller 25, so as to insure the envelop being sealed being directed to the space between the upper and lower forward rollers.

In connection with the rollers that are adapted to receive the envelop for the purpose of sealing the same a table D is employed for the purpose of carrying the envelops to the said rollers. On the upper face of this table a guide 44 is located, consisting of a longitudinal body having loop ends 45, through which set-screws 46 are passed and through suitable openings in the table, so that the guide can be adjusted according to the size of the envelop to be sealed.

The table is provided with lugs 47 on its under face at its ends, and the table is mounted to slide on guide-bars 49, which guide-bars pass through openings in the said lugs 47 and are attached at their rear ends to the uprights C, while the front ends of the said guide bars or rods 49 are secured to brackets 48, which extend upward through the support A, as is clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The rear edge 50 of the table is pointed, the under face of the table being beveled at that point, as is particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and racks 51 are either attached to the end portions of the table or are made integral therewith, which racks engage with the pinion 36 on the lower forward roller 25 and the pinion 36 on the lower rear roller 24, as is shown in Fig. 1.

The table D is carried to and from the sealing-rollers for the envelop through the medium of the elbow-lever 11, heretofore referred to, the slot 13 in the upper portion of the longer member of this lever receiving a pin 52, which pin is located between two angular lugs 53, secured to the bottom of the table D at its central portion, as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and as shown in positive lines in Figs. 3 and 4, the pin 52 being held by the vertical members of these lugs. A second pin 54 is secured at the rear portions of the horizontal members of the said lugs 53, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and around ing-roller consists of two side bars 58, which.

are pivoted at their forward ends to lugs 59,

attached to the under forward portion of the envelop-carrying table D, as shown in Fig. 2,

and one of the said side bars 58--the right-v hand side bar, for example-is provided with a downwardly-extending arm 60. (Shown in Figs. 3 and 4.) Each side bar 58 is provided with outwardly-extending horizontal apertured lugs 61, and rods 62 pass freely through the apertures of these lugs, a spring 63 being coiled around the rods 62 between the lugs 61, and the tendency of these springs 63 is to force the moistening-roller 57 in a rearward direction orin direction of the sealing-rollers.

At the rear end of each rod 62 or the ends which are adjacent to the sealing-rollers bearings 64 are formed, in which the trunnions of the moistening-roller 57 are mounted to turn, and an angular. latch 65 is secured at one end to the outer face of each bearing 64. These latches 65 are adapted to engage with keepers 66, attached to the under face of the envelop-carrying table D near its rear or delivery end, and when the latches are in engagement with the keepers 66 the moisteningroller is held up close to the lower inclined portion of the envelop carrying table, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the roller occupying this position until the table D has been carried to the sealing-rollers and has partially entered the envelop between the two forward rollers 25 and 27, as shown in Fig. 4.

The envelop E to be sealed is placed upon the table D in such manner that the sealingfiap E of the envelop will extend downward, as shown in Fig. 3, in engagement with the moistening-roller 57. In the operation of the machine when an envelop has been placed in the position above described and the table D is carried rearward or toward the sealing-rollers as soon as the envelop has been entered between the forward set of sealing-rollers, as shown in Fig. 4, the flap E of the envelop will be in engagement with the shield 41, as shown also in Fig. 4, and the moisteningroller will be in engagement with the flap. The next operation is to cause the moistening-roller to pass downward over the gummed surface of the sealing-flap and to the lower or dotted position shown in Fig. 4, in which latter position the moistening-roller engages with the upper inclined surface 21 of the moistening-pad 19, whereupon the moistening-roller receives a supply of water and is in condition toapply the same to a mucilaged or gummed surface of the next envelop to be sealed,- and after the moistening-roller has taken up moisture from the pad 19 the moistening-roller as the table D is again carried forward is carried to its upper or normal position and is locked in said position, the envelop being meanwhile held between the two forward rollers 25 and 27 to be forced farther outward when the table D is again carried in direction of the said sealing-rollers to deliver another envelop. In order to insure the flaps vof the envelops being thoroughly sealed to their body portions, the second set of sealing-.

rollers 24 and 26 is provided, so that the envelop that has been placed between the forward set of sealing-rollers at the first rearward movement of the table D will at the next rearward movement of the said table be carried sufficiently rearwardto be engaged by the contiguous surfaces of the rear set of rollers 24 and 26, which latter set of rollers Will smooth down any irregularities that may occur while the envelop is passing through the first set of rollers, since the machine may be operated very rapidly and there is a bare possibility that one envelop out of many will not be properly closed when passed through the first set of sealing-rollers.

At this point I desire it to be understood that the machine is considered complete when provided with a single set of sealing-rollersnamely, the rollers 25 and 27and that the auxiliary set of sealing-rollers 24 and 26 are simply provided to insure positive results in every instance.

The movement of the moistening-roller 57 isbrought about as follows: Posts 67 and 68 are secured upon the support A, adjacent to .the path traversed by the extension 60.from one of the side bars 58 of the moisteningroller, and-a bar 69 slides loosely through the said posts 67 and 68. A spring 70 is coiled around this bar 69, having bearing against the post 68 and against a pin 71 or other projection from the bar or rod 69, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. At the forward end of the bar or rod 69 a pin 72 is located, which extends in direction of the right-hand side of the machine or occupies such a position that when the table D moves forward the vertical member 60 of the angular lug 53 will engage the said pin at a predetermined moment.

The sliding and spring-pressed rod 69 formsv a spring-bufier which not only serves to re-.

in its normal or forward position andthe moistening-roller in an upper position just forward of and in engagement with the flap E of the envelop. The envelop and table being in the position above stated, when the elbow-lever 11 or its equivalent is actuated the table is carried in direction of the sealingrollers and the sealing-flap section of the envelop is made to enter the space between the upper and lower inner sealing-rollers 25 and 27, as shown in Fig. 4, and the gummed portion of the flap of the envelop will rest upon the shield or guard 41. As the table D advances to its full rear position such pressure is brought to bear upon the moistening-roller 57 as to press the said roller forward against the tension of the springs 63 of the frame, and thus release the latches 65 from the keepers 66 on the table, whereupon the spring 55 acts to force the moistening-roller downward, causing it to occupy the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the moistening-roller in its downward travel passing over the gummed portion of the sealing-flap of the envelop, and the movement of the table D will be such that the envelop will be carried sufficiently far between the two forward rollers 25 and 27 so as to be held thereby, but without sealing the same. Meanwhile the moisteningroller will have traveled down the guard or shield 41 and will have engaged with the upper surface of the moistening-pad 19, and at the forward movement of the table D the moistening-roller will travel up the inclined face 21 of the moistening-pad, and the vertical member 60 of the frame of the moistening-roller,which in the lower position of the moistening-roller occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4,will be engaged by the pin 72 of the spring-controlled rod or bar 69, and the frame carrying the moistening-roller will be carried upward until the rods or bars 62 of the said frame will occupy substantially a horizontal position, as shown in positive lines in Figs. 3 and 4, and the latches 65, carried by the frame of the moistening-roller, will be again brought in engagement with the keepers 66, and the table and moisteningroller will be again in position for operation. When the next envelop E is placed on the table D, the rearward movement of the racks 51 will cause the envelop previously deposited between the upper and lower sealingrollers 25 and 27 to pass out from said rollers prior to the introduction between the said rollers of a second envelop in condition for sealing. It is to be understood that the movement of the table from the rollers is to be sufficient to allow an envelop to be placed upon the table without interfering with the envelop held by the rollers. The object of leaving the envelop a short time between the rollers 25 and 27 is to allow the moisture to penetrate the mucilage or dissolve the same.

sealing-rollers 25 and 27. Therefore the rear or auxiliary set of sealing-rollers 24 and 26 is employed, and these latter rollers receive the envelop after it has passed between the inner sealing-rollers and will positively cause the flap of the envelop operated upon to be secured to the body of the envelop.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an en velop-sealing machine, a sealing device, a moistening device, and operating mechanism for the sealing device acting to first seize and temporarily detain the envelop and then seal the same, as set forth.

2. In an envelop-sealing machine, a sealing device, a moistening device, means for delivering an envelop to the sealing device, and mechanism for operating the sealing device, the operation of the said mechanism being so timed relatively to the delivery means that the envelop will be temporarily held by the sealing device prior to the sealing of the same, as set forth.

3. In an envelop-sealing machine, a sealing device,a moistening device,an envelop-holder, the said holder and sealing device being movable relatively toward and from each other, and means whereby when the holder and sealing device are moved toward each other an envelop will be delivered to the sealing device and held thereby until the said parts have moved away from each other and again start to move toward each otherwhen the envelop will be sealed, as set forth.

4. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealingrollers, means for feeding an envelop to the said rollers, means for moistening the envelop before it is seized by the rollers, and mechanism for operating the rollers to cause them to draw an envelop between them, the operation of such mechanism being so timed relatively to the feeding means that the envelop will be detained between the rollers after it has been seized thereby and before it is discharged therefrom, as set forth.

5. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealingrollers, means for holding the envelop, said envelop-holding means and the sealing-rollers being movable relatively toward and from each other, and means for turning the sealing-rollers during the movement of the parts toward each other, whereby the said rollers will be operated to discharge the envelop at such time, said rollers being stationary during the movement of the rollers and the envelop-holding means apart, whereby the envelop when caught by the rollers will be temporarily detained during the movement of the envelop-holder and rollers away from each other, as set forth.

6. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealingrollers, an envelop-holder, the holder and sealing-rollers being movable relatively toward and from each other, means for turning the sealing-rollers during the movement of the parts toward each other, said rollers being stationary duringthe movement of the holder rier moves toward the said rollers, the said rollers being stationary during the movement of the carrier away from the rollers, and a moistening device carried by the carrier for applying moisture to the envelop prior to its entrance between the sealing-rollers, substantially as described. I 8. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealingrollers, an envelop-carrier movable toward and from the sealing-rollers, means for-operating the sealing-rollers as the carrier moves toward said rollers, the rollers being stationary during the movement of the carrier away from thesealing-rollers, and a moisteningroller yieldingly mounted under the carrier at its front edge, substantially as described. 9. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealingrollers, a platen in front of and adjacent to the lower sealing-roller, an envelop-carrier movable toward and from the said rollers, a moistening device carried by the carrier and coacting with the platen to moisten the envelop, and means for operating the sealingrollers and carrier, substantiallyas described.

10. In an envelop-sealin g machine, sealingrollers, aplatenin front of and adjacent to the lower sealing-roller, an envelop-carrier slidable towardand from the rollers, a pivoted moistening device carried by the carrier and coacting with the platen to moisten the envelop, and means for operating the sealingrollers fromthe carrier, substantially as de scribed. Y

11. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealing means, a moistening-pad in front of and below the sealing means, a carrier slidable toward and from the sealing means, a moistening-roll'en carried by the carrier, and means for bringing said pad and roller into contact and releasing the same to allow it contact with the moistening-pad at the end of said delivery movement, and means for returning the roller to its normal position on the return movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

13. In an envelop-sealing machine, sealingrollers, a moistening-pad below and in front of the said rollers, an envelop-carrier slidable toward and from the sealing-rollers, a moistening-roller yieldin'gly mounted in a support pivoted to the under side of the carrier, devices for holding the rollerclose to the under side of'the carrier in .the delivery movement of the same, and releasing the same to allow the roller to contact with the moistening-pad at the end of;the said delivery movement of the carrier,and means for returning the rollersupport to its normal position on the return movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

' 14, In an envelop-sealin g machine, the combination with sealing rollers, an envelop-' holder,'the sealing-rollers and holder being movable relatively toward and from each other, a-ratchet-wheel fixed to the shaft of one ot the sealing-rollers, a pinion loose on the shaft of the said sealing-roller and carrying a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, and a rack by means of which the said loose pinion is driven whereby the feed-rollers will be driven when the parts are moved toward each other and remain stationary when said parts are moved apart, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In anenvelop-sealing machine, the combination of sealing-rollers, a ratchet-wheel fixed to the shaft of one sealirig-roller,a pinion loose on the shaft of said roller and carrying a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, an en-: 'velop-carrier movable toward and from the.

feed-rollers, and a rack carried by the carrierand meshing with the said pinion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

16. In an envelop-sealing machine, a pair of sealing-rollers, a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft of one of said rollers, a pinion loose on the shaft of the said roller and carrying a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, a second pair of sealing-rollers in rear of the-first pair, a pinion fixed to the shaft of one of the second pair of rollers, an envelop-carrier mov able toward and from the feed-rollers, and a rack carried by the carrier and meshing with the-pinions of the said rollers, substantially as described. 7

17. In an envelop-sealing maehine,the combination of sealing rollers, a moistening device, an envelop-holder, said'holder and sealing-rollers being movable relatively toward and from each other, and an adjustable gage on theholder, whereby the holder is'adapted for various sizes of envelops and provision made for holding an envelop thereon with its edge projecting beyond the edge of the holder to facilitate its entrance between the rollers, substantially as described.

18. A pair of sealing-rollers, a table n10unt= ed to reciprocate to and from said sealingrollers, an actuating mechanism common to 'both the table and the rollers, and amoistening-roller carried by the table and having movement to and from the table in a vertical direction. 1 I j 19. A pair of sealing-rollers, a table having reciprocating movement to and from the space between the sealingrollers, a moistening-roller located beneath the table, and having pivotal connection therewith, the moistening-roller being normally held close to the under side of the table, and a trip device for the said moisteningroller, as described.

20. In a sealing device for envelops, pairs of sealing-rollers, tension devices for the said rollers, actuating devices for said rollers and a movable table connected with said actuating devices, a tank adapted to contain liquid, a moistening device located Within said tank and extending out therefrom, a moisteningroller pivoted beneath said table, adapted to travel with the table to the sealing-rollers and having movement downward in direction of the moistening device, the moistening-roller being normally close to the underside of the table, and a trip mechanism for the moistening-roller, substantially as described.

:31. In a machine forsealing envelops, a pair of sealingrollers, one being located above the other, racks imparting movement to the sealing-rollers, a table connected with the said racks, adapted to carry an envelop, a frame pivotally mounted beneath the said table, a moistening-roller carried by the said frame, means for raising and lowering the moistening-roller, a tank located beneath the sealingrollers, and an absorbent material located within said tank and extending therefrom, which absorbent material is adapted to be engaged by the moistening-roller at its downward movement, as specified.

22. In a machine for sealing envelops, a duplicate pair of sealing-rollers, atable adapted to carry an envelop, having movement to and from the sealing-rollers, an actuating mechanism for the table and the sealingrollers, a spring-controlled frame pivoted to the table, a locking and trip mechanism for the said frame, a moistening-roller carried by the frame, and a moistening device adapted to be engaged by the moistening-roller on its downward movement, said moistening-roller having a movement with the table toward the sealing-rollers and a downward movement to the moistening device together with an upward movement to the said table, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED HEYDRIOII.

\Vitnesses:

.T. FRED. ACKER, EVERARD BOLTON MARsHALL. 

